Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the 'tug of war' in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has exposed the lust of power amongst its leadership in the state.

Parkash Singh Badal said selling of tickets is not the job of political leaders or parties and this reflects that the entire ‘civil war’ in AAP is just aimed at defaming each other to acquire the control of party.(Reuters)

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the ‘tug of war’ in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has exposed the lust of power amongst its leadership in the state.

Interacting with media persons here on the sidelines of Sangat Darshan program in Baba Bakala assembly segment, the Chief Minister said there was hardly any parallel in Indian polity when the top leadership of the party has been accused of indulging in corrupt practices, that too, for the sake of party tickets.

He said selling of tickets is not the job of political leaders or parties and this reflects that the entire ‘civil war’ in AAP is just aimed at defaming each other to acquire the control of party.

Badal said Punjabis are watching this power struggle amongst the AAP leaders, that has torn the party into pieces, just to yearn power.

“It is really shameful as it does not behove of any political party or leader to act in such irresponsible manner,” he added.

Badal said Shiromani Akali Dal would also announce its candidates at appropriate time for the ensuing state assembly polls in 2017.

“We will fight the upcoming elections on the plank of overall development, peace and communal harmony in the state,” he added.

He said the financial condition of state is very sound and the state Congress Chief Captain Amarinder Singh should stop defaming the state by issuing baseless statements.

The Punjab Chief Minister alleged that the Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar is “misleading” the people even on issue of debt waiver of farmers.

He said that Amarinder is well aware of the fact that state government could hardly do anything regarding debts by banks but just for the sake of attaining power he is making “false” promises to the people.

Badal, while slamming the Congress party, said Congress has irrelevantly meddled in the social, political, economic and even religious affairs of the state.

He alleged the Congress government at the centre had “deliberately denied” the state of Punjabi speaking areas, its capital Chandigarh and even its “legitimate share” in river waters.

The Chief Minister said that AAP was also following the Congress by resorting to “anti-Punjab” stance.